A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance said: "We received a call yesterday (March 15) at 5.09pm to reports of an road traffic collision involving a young pedestrian on Gabriel Street, Saffron Walden.

"We dispatched a community first responder (CFR), ambulance crew, ambulance officer, and an air ambulance from the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) charity.

"At the scene the young child was treated for life threatening injuries before being air lifted to Addenbrookes for further care in a critical condition."

An Essex Police spokesman said: "A five year old boy is in hospital with life-threatening injuries following a road traffic collision in Saffron Walden.